I think this one concerns JRPG fans more than everyone else. So take that into consideration, Themadcow.

Actually, I think when it comes to JRPGs it primarily matters to people in Europe, who from what I've seen traditionally go for their region's version but will import if necessary. Other games (like Ouendan) are more import friendly and thus affect way more people, while for anyone who learned the language it's a comparatively small investment to import the system, and not only would you have guaranteed access to each Japanese title but those are extreme purists would want nothing to do with the English version anyway.

And those 3D releases ARE actual remakes, at least from Nintendo, Ocarina of Time runs smoother and has graphics that are actually a pretty significant improvement, even if you wouldn't think it unless you JUST played OoT again or saw comparisons.

Except Apple and Zynga have thrown a wrench into the works. I'm going to stay optimistic that the 3DS at the least will do pretty well overall, even if it's not going to match the DS's success, but the casual audience has mostly moved on and too many serious gamers blow off handhelds entirely, justly or not.

And those 3D releases ARE actual remakes, at least from Nintendo, Ocarina of Time runs smoother and has graphics that are actually a pretty significant improvement, even if you wouldn't think it unless you JUST played OoT again or saw comparisons.

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But they're still just that...remakes, even if they're significantly updated to today's technological standards or have new content. Zelda OOT was out over a decade ago. I and many others have already played it either on the N64 or GC ages ago. It needs NEW content. Even the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei is a remake from the regular DS. I don't see any NEW rpg's on the 3DS horizon coming anytime soon.

I missed out on Tales of the Abyss and Devil Survivor, so I'm happy for the time being... and the 3D will be a nice touch.

I hear more and more talk about smartphones affecting the market. I have had conversations where I say "if I taped this tracphone to my 3DS, I'd have the same product as your phone." The Vita with 3G is going to make that argument even easier, as the biggest setback with handhelds is the hotspot requirement. I've never bothered at McDonalds, because fuck man, I'm eating and my fingers are greasy, and I can just go home and use a real computer.

That, and I use the drive-thru almost exclusively. I spend as little time away from home as possible.

I bet Japan has wifi hotspots all over, though, and where I live in the USA, it's all farmland and cow poop smell. I don't think I quite understand who the wifi functionality is for, because while it is really nice to have gamefaqs open in my hands while my HDTV isn't on my PC channel, the scope of Spotpass seemed much greater than that. Something like "Free Zelda NES 3D Classics download through Spotpass at Best-Buy, today only" would get me off my ass and racking up play coins in no time.

Maybe that wasn't really aimed at what I was saying, but it's not whether or not a smartphone is better, it's whether or not it's drawing away the audience that helps these systems gain a footing, or even draws in those that have ignored handhelds and probably would've liked them if they tried. I don't mind having iOS games complimenting this type of experience, it's better for the medium really, but if I had to choose between which of the two survives it'd definitely be traditional handhelds. Especially with the DS line already having a touchscreen and the Vita using the same type as on smartphones anyway.

Zenonia was a phone game before it hit DSi, where I discovered it. So I can't be against that. It's just that the smartphone people are so... proud. They don't have niche loyalty like some gamers do, because they just signed a 2 year contract, which amounts to much more cash than someone buying two handhelds. <---dumb sentence

They are fanboys to their contracts.

Basically, no one can afford to buy a 'handheld' after they've signed a contract for a smartphone service plan, so they'll defend it to hell.

Except it launched in a relatively slow period and just had a price drop, so it'll probably pick up. And frankly, if it doesn't then I have no hope for the Vita, which is doubly frustrating than simply one of the two failing.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, Themadcow, but honestly I wouldn't buy either system now. At least not for RPGs.

Keep in mind if you're planning on playing DS games on the 3DS I have heard (though I don't have a 3DS myself to confirm...) that most DS games really don't look good on the 3DS screen because of the stretching from the resolution differences. When you add in the 3DS's battery life issues I think you're much better off playing DS games on a DS.

Maybe see if you can find a cheap DS somewhere. There are probably great deals to be had these days, so I wouldn't pay MSRP.

Personally I'm quite interested in the Vita, but not for RPGs at this point. They've barely announced any yet. Of course it's still really early, and RPG developers tend to be slower about adopting new platforms in general.

I second this. Generally, video games and gaming systems plummet in value, so even just waiting 6 months can net you a much cheaper machine/game. There is also the point about how some consoles (I'm looking at you, PS2!!! >:( ) start out defective beyond repair and the company cheats the customers it scammed by violating court order after court order (die Sony!!! >:( ). In those cases, you have to buy a later model of the product that actually works anyway.

I've heard that DS games don't look too hot on the 3DS, can anyone confirm?

From Gamespot forums:

Quote

The top screen of the 3DS has a higher resolution that previous iterations. This can make the game seem somewhat blurry, but not unplayable. When selecting to play a DS game from the menu, simply hold down the start or select buttons and your 3DS will display the game in its native resolution and the blurriness factor is removed from the equation.

Not 100% sure about this, but I've seen it mentioned a few times on other forums as well.

I've heard that DS games don't look too hot on the 3DS, can anyone confirm?

From Gamespot forums:

Quote

The top screen of the 3DS has a higher resolution that previous iterations. This can make the game seem somewhat blurry, but not unplayable. When selecting to play a DS game from the menu, simply hold down the start or select buttons and your 3DS will display the game in its native resolution and the blurriness factor is removed from the equation.

Not 100% sure about this, but I've seen it mentioned a few times on other forums as well.

Oh cool, didn't know about that. Considering the fact that I hear people complain I'm guessing that some 3DS owners don't know about that either.

The blurriness factor is removed from the equation, but like all good equations, another variable has to give, in this case, size. I don't know how well versed you all are in this stuff, but I'll compare it to playing PSP games on your TV. Too many small pixels, celebrated as high resolution, so when you match the native you are left with smaller physical dimensions.

I miss CRT monitors now. "HD" is so barely an evolution of technology, and so much more of economic exploitation.

The blurriness factor is removed from the equation, but like all good equations, another variable has to give, in this case, size. I don't know how well versed you all are in this stuff, but I'll compare it to playing PSP games on your TV. Too many small pixels, celebrated as high resolution, so when you match the native you are left with smaller physical dimensions.

I miss CRT monitors now. "HD" is so barely an evolution of technology, and so much more of economic exploitation.

DS games look worse on 3DS, absolutely. Like Wii games on an HDTV, actually.

Oh I know how PSP games look on a TV, I bought a cable and barely use it, the aliasing is so bad it hurts my eyes. I don't know how you went from that to saying that HD isn't a significant upgrade though. The hell it isn't.